Welcome back to my blog, Lainey lovers! If you’re new here, check out the 70+ blogs I’ve already written. I’m sure you’ll find something to tickle your fancy.
Today we will be venturing into the world of cloth. As many of you may know, a few months ago I decided to take the plunge into cloth diapering Lainey. The prints are precious, endless, and I’m a sucker for it. With that being said, I will be covering the pocket diaper version of cloth diapers, as that is all I own, and all I plan to ever use on Lainey.
All of Lainey’s diapers were purchased via Alva Baby. They sell more than just pockets. Also, if you purchase over $49, (yes, cloth diapers are expensive upfront) your order will ship within a week. Any orders placed under $49 ship in 4-6 weeks.
Let’s get on with this, shall we? I know there’s a million questions running through everyone’s mind right now, as I was the same way whilst learning the way of the fluff butt. Here’s just a few frequently asked questions I’ve asked, and been asked myself.
Q: Do you throw them away once they’re used?
A: No. Cloth diapers are expensive, and that is because they are reusable. You wash them just like you would wash your clothes.
Q: What are pocket diapers?
A: Pocket diapers are diapers that contain a pocket. You stuff said pockets with inserts, which absorbs all your pee and poop to avoid it sitting against baby’s skin.
Pocket diaper example. Photo cred : Google
Q: Won’t they leak?
A: No. As pictured in the photo above, the outer layer is made of a waterproof material to prevent leaking.
Q: How much do they cost?
A: I’ve only ever purchased from Alva, so the prices vary. Alva is a great brand, for a great deal. Their diapers range from $5-8 a diaper.
Q: Why are they so expensive?
A: Cloth diapers are an upfront cost. They’re expensive, because you’re paying for a reusable diaper, and the materials used to make them. Once you pay that upfront cost, you never have to pay it again.
Q: What happens if they poop?
A: Then you spray the diapers out. You can spray them wherever, from the sink, to the driveway, to the toilet. You can actually purchase a sprayer to attach to your toilet. Click here to purchase the sprayer I have for Lainey’s diapers.
Q: Won’t they stain if baby poops?
A: Not always. Sometimes they can, but there’s a method to that madness. If your cloth diapers have a stain, then once you wash, hang them outside sunny side up to let the sun dry them. The sun will naturally bleach the stains out of the diapers. Cool, right?
Q: What can I and can’t I use rash wise?
A: Avoid petroleumjellys at ALL costs. This can ruin your diapers and prevent them from absorbing like they should. You can safely use buttpaste, Nystatin, and things similar to them. Or, if it’s easier, just use disposables until the rash has cleared.
Q: How time consuming is cloth diapering?
A: Not very. I can stuff all of Lainey’s diapers within 15-20 minutes. Once you’ve mastered your stuffing style, it’ll be natural to you.
Q: Do they work well at night?
A: It varies from child to child. Lainey pees like a broken fire hydrant at night (thanks Alicia), so we use disposable for overnight. For heavy wetters, its recommended to double and or triple the amount of inserts you use for max absorption. Some babies will be fine overnight, others not so much.
Q: How often do you change Lainey?
A: Lainey is 16 months, keep in mind. Lainey can generally last in 1 diaper (granted we have no poops) for 2-3 hours at a time. Newborns and younger babies who poop frequently will obviously not be able to last as long in 1 diaper.
Q: How do they hold up in car rides?
A: I’ve yet to have issues on a car ride. Lainey’s not had a blowout in the car with her cloth diapers. They’ve not leaked onto the car seat, either.
Q: Where do you store the dirty diapers?
A: In a wet bag. What’s that? A bag made from the same waterproof material as the diapers! They zip and unzip, which is great at keeping the stink IN.
Wet bag example. Photo cred : Google.
Wet bags come in many styles and patterns.
Q: What’s my favorite cloth brand?
A: As of late, Alva baby is the only brand I’ve purchased. I’ve been more than happy and pleased with the diapers, so I’ve yet to venture out to other brands.
Q: What is an insert?
A: Inserts are what goes inside the pockets of the diapers that absorbs the pee (and any liquid from the poops) that occur. They make many different forms of inserts such as bamboo, hemp, microfiber, and charcoal. Click here to check out the inserts I use for Lainey.
Q: How do you wash them?
A: First, you need to test your water. You need to know if you have hard or soft water. You can use water straight from the tap. If you have hard water, you’ll need to use a water softener such as borax. If you have soft water, you can just use regular detergent and will not need water softners. You should always wash diapers and inserts separate from clothes. After all, baby is peeing and pooping in them. Always wash them with HOT water, to kill off all the icky. You can use either powder, or liquid detergent. For Lainey, I use Tide Free & Gentle. Some moms use TidePowder. When I wash Lainey’s diapers, I wash them on a hot, heavy cycle, with 2 rinses.
How to test your water. Photo cred : Google
Q: Can you use them straight out of the package?
A: No. When your diapers first arrive, you will need to prep them. They require numerous washes (2x minimum) to reach their maximum absorbency. Once they’ve been prepped, you’re good to go. Some reccomend washing at least 5-6 times before using.
Q: How often do you wash diapers?
A: I wash Lainey’s diapers every 2-3 days, sometimes longer. The more stock you have, the less you’ll need to wash. It’s best to have at least 20 diapers (granted you don’t have a newborn) to cloth diaper full time. I have 30 diapers for Lainey total.
Q: How do you fasten them?
A: The new and improved cloth diapers now have buttons galore. There are buttons all throughout the diaper that will allow you to make it looser, or tighter. No more accidentally safety pinning it to baby’s skin!
Q: When are cloth diapers outgrown?
A: Pocket diapers go up to 33 lbs. (Alva baby, anyways). So once your babes reach the weight, they may or may not fit in them any longer. Lainey is currently 25 lbs and fits in hers perfectly.
Please note, that I am still fairly new to cloth diapering, so I am by no means an expert. What works for me, may not work for you. This blog is for helping those out who may not know or may just be curious. This will conclude the first chapter of Lainey and I’s cloth diaper journey, for now. If you have any questions that I didn’t answer, please leave them in the comments below and I’ll put them in the next blog! 🙂 I hope you’ve enjoyed today’s read, and have taken something away from reading. Have a fabulous day/night!
Love, Lainey & Mommy. ❤️
laineysmommy 